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The UK government confirms it will not prevent video game publishers from making online games unplayable

by Danny Craig · 2/4/25, 3:33 PM
The UK government confirms it will not prevent video game publishers from making online games unplayable
Warner Bros. Games

After players launched a petition to prevent companies from shutting down servers and rendering games unplayable, the UK government confirmed that it has no plans to amend its laws to protect consumers further.

The details:

  • A petition backed by the Stop Killing Games movement asked the UK government to prevent game publishers from making their games inaccessible if their online servers were shut down. The most notable example of this is Ubisoft's The Crew, which was rendered unplayable after being brought offline because it lacked an offline mode despite being fully playable without affecting its multiplayer elements.

  • However, the government has now responded to the petition, stating that it has "no plans to amend UK consumer law on disabling video games" and that companies will simply have to follow existing regulations. “Video games sellers must comply with existing consumer law – this includes the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) and Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs),” the statement reads. “However, there is no requirement in UK law for software companies to support older versions of their products. Decision-making is for those companies, taking account of commercial and regulatory factors and complying with existing consumer law.”

  • The CRA requires businesses to ensure that physical and digital goods are sold as described and functional, which does not apply to online services. However, the government explains that it may be "difficult and expensive for businesses to maintain support for old software" and thus companies should make it clear that it no longer supports a game on "product webpages and physical packaging."

  • Meanwhile, the CPR requires that all information about a game be "clear and correct" in order to prevent consumers from being misled. This means that if a game is marketed as being playable indefinitely, companies may be required to keep their servers running or offer an offline mode.

  • Following the backlash against Ubisoft over The Crew, the company announced that The Crew 2 and Motorfest would receive offline modes. Other live-service games, such as MultiVersus, have also confirmed that offline play will remain available beyond its upcoming closure, while Sony issued refunds to all buyers of Concord, its short-lived hero shooter.

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